Pediatric Cardiology Elective

Course Overview

The goal of this elective is to understand how to distinguish normal from abnormal cardiovascular signs and symptoms, understand how to recognize, manage, and, if necessary, refer cardiovascular conditions in children, understand key principles related to the use of cardiovascular drugs, and understand the role of prevention of cardiovascular disease in pediatric patients.

Learn about the Children's Heart Center.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the mechanisms of production of heart sounds and murmurs and recognize classic auscultatory findings of innocent and pathologic murmurs
• Differentiate between physiologic and pathologic variations in cardiac rhythm
• Describe the normal perinatal circulation and its influence on the development of signs and symptoms of heart disease in the neonate
• Describe the use and indications for electrocardiography, echocardiography, exercise testing, ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring and cardiac catheterization
• Identify and describe the management of functional heart murmurs, musculoskeletal chest pain, and mild labile hypertension
• Describe the initial evaluation and management of the child presenting with serious signs and symptoms related to the cardiovascular system such as cyanosis, palpitations and/or arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, syncope, abnormal heart sounds, and pathologic murmurs
• Describe the physical findings, pathophysiology, genetics, usual treatments, and prognosis for common cardiovascular conditions including ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, patent ductus arteriosus, coarctation of the aorta, aortic and pulmonary stenosis, mitral valve prolapse, supraventricular tachycardia, Kawasaki disease, acute rheumatic fever, bacterial endocarditis, and cardiomyopathy
• Recognize the risk factors and identify appropriate screening and prevention strategies for atherosclerotic heart disease

Schedule of Activities

The student will participate in all activities and conferences of the division, including time in the outpatient clinic, inpatient consultations, observation/participation in performing electrocardiograms, exercise testing, and echocardiography. Opportunity will be provided to observe in the cardiac catheterization lab and operating room.

Didactic Activities

Students are expected to read about and discuss the learning objectives with their mentor throughout the rotation. In addition, students are expected to attend all the daily Pediatric Cardiology Conferences, all which are held in the morning: 

• Monday: Changeover
• Tuesday: Echo Conference
• Wednesday: Fellows Conference
• Thursday: Cardiovascular Care Conference
• Friday: Surgery Conference

Required Reading

• Myung K. Park. Pediatric Cardiology for Practitioners. 5th edition. Mosby Elsevier, 2008.
• Rudolph CD, Rudolph AM, ed. Rudolph’s Pediatrics. 21st ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, Medical Pub. Division; 2003.
• McMillian JA, ed. Oski’s Pediatrics: Principles & Practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams Wilkins; 2006.
• Kliegman RM, et al., ed. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders; 2007.

Student Evaluations

To receive a passing grade, students must have demonstrated active participation in the division's clinical activities and, in consultation with the pediatric cardiology attending on service, document that the learning objectives have been covered and met.